Shabbat UK - 2015

Bushey celebrated an amazing Shabbat UK 2015

On Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th October 2015, hundreds of Bushey families came together to celebrate a warm and engaging Shabbat as a community. This year’s 27-hour event was even bigger than the highly-successful Bushey Shabbat UK 2014, and included non-stop activities and discussions, uplifting services and a large communal lunch for over 500 people.

The free event was launched on the Friday night with a special communal candle lighting and musical Kabbalat Shabbat, following by dinner parties at people’s homes. Then later in the evening, there were onegim (dessert and drinks parties) at three locations around Bushey – two for adults and one for youth.

Children were an integral part of the Shabbat morning services, with singing and sedra readings. The services were followed by thought provoking discussions, led by Rabbi Salasnik and Judy Salasnik with guest speakers Rabbi Dr Rafi Zarum and Rav Ari Faust. The biggest event of the day was a delicious communal lunch at the Shul for 470 adults and 100 kids. Festivities continued during the afternoon with children, youth and adult activities, right until Mincha, an interactive Seudah Shilishit and then Maariv. The jam-packed day was brought to a memorable close with Havdalah, live music and dancing.

A huge team of Bushey members helped to create the lovely ruach (atmosphere) throughout the weekend, from taking services and leading discussions to helping with stewarding and security and organising the food and entertainment.

Bushey Shabbat UK was one of hundreds of UK events to mark Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis’s Shabbat UK, an initiative calling upon all Jews to observe a special Shabbat with all of its traditions and laws.

Quote from Nicky Goldman and Mitchell Cohen (on right of the picture)

“Wow, what a Shabbat! A packed out shul Friday night, 470 adults for lunch, 100 kids, a 27 hour program of thought provoking sessions. Bushey Shabbat UK was amazing! We hope everyone enjoyed Shabbat UK as much as we did! We look forward to seeing you all again very soon! As our strap line says: “Together we create a community“

Nicky, Mitchell and the Shabbat UK Team

Watch the Chief Rabbi’s Shabbat UK message to Bushey Shul, which was sent with only 3 days to go till the biggest and most exciting Shabbat Bushey has ever seen!

You can see more photos and quotes on our Facebook page and in the gallery below